language stereotypes

Dialects are often used as a way to paint a picture of a particular person and it can reveal how we associate certain stereotypes with a particular dialect. Occasionally this linguistic stereotyping is brought to light.

I want you to analyze the use of English in a TV program, or a film. Look for examples where different characters use different varieties of English: standard or non-standard (think social, ethnic and global English dialects) and native or non-native. Compare and contrast the features of the non-standard forms that are being employed (phonological, morpho-syntactic, vocabulary etc.) and the effect that appears to be intended. Do you believe it to be accurate? Is it fair?